Linux was too complicated for most users...in 1997.
It's much easier now.
You do have to be careful when buying hardware, although the hardware support is pretty good these days.
I can see an argument for home users to use Windows so they can just buy junk hardware and have it work half-way. But I can't see a reason to continue to use it for corporate desktops. It's just too expensive, both in licensing and upkeep.
I started using Linux in 2004 with Linspire and Xandros. I now have Xandros 3.0.2 OCE on my laptop (planning on getting Xandros 3.0.2 Business Edition to put on the laptop) and on the desktop as well. I'm downloading the latest Linspire ISO (version 5.1.427) and I'm gonna try that out on the desktop once I get it burned to a CD.